Posted by hummingbird on 5/12/2014, 7:37 am VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Chapter Seven
Saturday night a few weeks later found Bo in a foul mood. They hadn’t had a weekend furlough in three weeks. Now that he was finally in town, Nora was out of town with her parents.
“Man! What is your problem?” asked Mick after Bo snapped at him yet another time.
Bo rubbed a hand over his face in frustration. “I don’t have a problem. Guess I’m just tired,” he mumbled.
“Tired? From doing what? You’ve been hanging around this apartment all day! You need to get out for awhile,” Mick said as he dressed for his date. “Why aren’t you seeing Nora? You guys have a fight?”
“No, we didn’t have a fight! She’s busy...went out of town with her folks to visit her sister in college.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you date a youngster...they have to go with the folks when the folks leave town…”
“Will you knock it off with the age thing? Come on!” Bo shouted.
“Sorry,” said Mick quietly, “I forgot you were sensitive about that issue…”
“I am not sensitive!”
“Oh no! You’re not sensitive! Not you!” Mick started tying his shoes. “You know what...I think it’s a lot more than Nora being out of town. I think you’re just frustrated period! You need to let off some steam, if you know what I mean. How long has it been, anyway?”
“Don’t start with me, Mick.”
Mick looked up as he finished his shoes. “I’m serious, Bo. You need to release some of that frustration. I know you haven’t been getting any from that sweet little thing you’re seeing….or are you holding out on me?”
When Bo stood and walked to the window, Mick said, “Bo?”
“Let it go, Mick,” Bo grumbled.
“I knew it,” Mick said shaking his head. “Look...Lena and I are going to have a few drinks, maybe go to a movie. I think her friend Vera is in town and is coming with us. Now if there’s anyone more willing than Lena, it has to be Vera. You’ve seen Vera, haven’t you? She’s a beauty, Bo...she’ll treat you right. Come on and go with us.”
“No, that’s okay. I’m really not interested...”
“Man...you must have it bad.”
Bo didn’t respond.
“Alright then...guess I’ll see you later…” Mick grabbed his jacket and started for the door. Just before the door closed, Bo shouted.
“Wait! Give me five minutes to change. I guess I’ll go with you.”
“Alright! That’s good to hear. You won’t regret it, Bud, I guarantee it!”
“Yeah...whatever you say,” Bo muttered.
* * * * * * *
An hour later, Bo was on his third drink, had Vera hanging over his shoulder cracking her gum in his ear, and was already starting to regret his choice. He shoved his empty glass back to the bartender and asked for another.
Meanwhile, Lena and Mick were dancing, hanging all over each other.
“Hey Bo,” Vera said alluringly while smacking her gum, “Mick said you can dance. Wanna dance with me? Come on...”
She pulled him by the hands and onto the dance floor. She wasn’t much of a dancer, rather she draped herself across him moving seductively to the music. She laughed loudly at anything he said, unbuttoning his shirt collar and kissing his neck. She ran her hands through his hair and up and down his back pulling him closer to her. Mick was right...she was a beauty and very eager. He couldn’t help responding...any guy would…
Maybe it was because he hadn’t been with a woman in so long, or maybe it was the way she was handling him, or maybe it was because he had had one too many drinks...whatever the reason, he found himself letting go, pulling her closer, burying his face in her hair, kissing her mouth and neck…
When she suggested they leave, he looked at her through blurry eyes and grabbed his jacket. He approached Mick who was getting drinks from the bar.
“Hey, Vera and I are leaving. You can have the car. We’ll take a cab…”
“Good for you, man. See you later...much later.” He nudged Bo and winked as Bo turned to leave.
Bo hailed the first cab he could find; and as they rode back to the apartment, Vera was all over him...kissing him passionately and trying to unbutton his shirt. She laughed loudly as she pulled her gum from her mouth and tossed it over her shoulder. It was at this point that Bo came to his senses.
“Vera...Vera...wait a minute...stop. We can’t do this,” he said huskily pushing away from her.
“Don’t be shy,” she said bewitchingly.
“No...I’m serious. I can’t do this,” he told her shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lead you on…”
“What’s wrong with you?!” she exclaimed.
“It’s not you, Vera...it’s me,” he said rebuttoning his shirt. “There’s someone else...I can’t do this to her…” he said breathlessly. Then to the driver, “Stop at the next corner please.”
Bo handed the driver some cash. “Take the lady wherever she needs to go. The change is yours for a tip. Goodbye, Vera.” He shut the cab door, but could hear her yelling, “You’re crazy!” through the closed window as it sped away.
Maybe I am crazy, he thought.
After walking eight blocks back to the apartment, Bo undressed and dropped into bed. He hoped the alcohol he had consumed would bring sleep to him quickly...but it didn’t. He felt wretched...like he had cheated on Nora. He tried to justify himself...It's not like we're engaged or even committed in any way...he told himself. Yet he still felt terrible. What's wrong with me? I didn't even go through with it. Still it ate away at him. He could see Nora’s sweet face, her smile, he could smell the sweetness of her skin and hair...taste her soft lips...hear her laugh…
Suddenly the reason he was so miserable became very clear to him.
I love her. I do. I'm crazy in love with her. I don't want anyone else...just her. How did this happen so quickly? he wondered, and Does she feel the same way about me?
The realization of his feelings was both a source of relief and anxiety...he was happy to know how he felt but was anxious to know if she felt the same. And the whole situation was escalated in his eyes because of the war and his upcoming deployment.
He had to know how she felt about him...had to know where he stood...he had to tell her before he was called to duty...before it would be too late...